Word Origin & History

protest 1340 (implied in protestation) "solemn declaration," from L. protestari "declare publicly, testify, protest," from pro- "forth, before" + testari "testify," from testis "witness" (see testament). Original sense preserved in to protest one's innocence. Meaning "statement of disapproval" first recorded 1751; that of "expressing of dissent from, or rejection of, prevailing mores" is from 1953, in ref. to U.S. black civil rights movement. The verb is attested from 1440, "to declare or state formally or solemnly," from O.Fr. protester. First record of protest march is from 1959. Protester "demonstrator, ...public opponent of the established order" is from 1960.